JESSICA COLON
Staff Writer
The wait and anticipation of the completion of the new Townhouse Village is almost over.
With an expected estimate for the completion date set to the middle of summer, the townhouses will officially be opened by Aug. 1, 2014, when students will be allowed to move in.
Even though the townhouses are still under construction, last week there were student tours with the intention to help create more student interest and show those who are signed up what their living space will be like.
“We still have openings. All eligible students, who have at least 60 earned credit hours, are eligible to apply,” said Interim Director of Residence Life Kathy Forster.
Students who intend on applying must have earned at least 60 credit hours before the beginning of the Fall semester.
What sets the townhouses apart from other living spaces on campus is that students will have an entire apartment instead of half of a room. Each unit in the townhouse includes a furnished living room, full kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, in-unit laundry, two bathrooms and four private bedrooms equipped with full-size beds.
Each townhouse will also include study and banquet areas equipped with new furniture and fireplaces.
Within Townhouse Village there will be landscaped picnic areas, basketball courts and private courtyards for each unit.
“The townhouses are truly independent living, allowing students to come and go without restrictive hours,” said Director of Facilities Planning Markus Kessler.
Along with the independent living style come independent decisions. Students will be allowed to choose how many floor levels they prefer in their townhouse. They have the option to choose from one, two or three levels.
Although the townhouses are different than the dorms, they do have some similarities. There will be security with card access into units and locks on each bedroom door. Other similar features include Wi-Fi, Ethernet, cable and phone service.
“We will staff the townhouse main office with student assistants, and we will also have a townhouse coordinator in residence,” said Forster.
Although the townhouses are located by lot 9C and the softball field, which are further away from campus, there will still be quick and easy access to classes; conveniently, there is a bus stop located right next to the townhouses.
The benefit of the location is that students will feel like they’re off campus while still actually living on campus. Also, there is a parking lot across the road — residents will have only a short walk back and forth.
According to Forster, the cost of the townhouses will be $4,500 per tenant, which will be due by August 1.
“Even though the cost of the townhouses is more expensive than the dorms, you still get an entire apartment that’s completely furnished, and you don’t have to get a meal plan,” said future resident and sophomore childhood education major Colleen Deignan.
The townhouses present a modern village look because of all the new features, as well as the close proximity between each townhouse. The close proximity between each townhouse and the distance away from campus are what create the feeling of a small community.
Because all units aren’t full and there are only 70 students signed up for next year, members of Residence Life are researching new ways to introduce more students to the townhouses.
“Our intention is to market the townhouses to new transfer students, and we are researching new areas for special interest such as international education,” said Forster.
Weekly tours will be given to promote student interest, and Residence Life will announce the dates of these tours soon.
“It is our intention to have all units filled. We had some student tours mid-April to create some interest, and pictures were posted on our Facebook page,” said Forster.
Students who are interested are encouraged to stop by the Office of Residence Life in Gregory Hall with any questions.